Shaw, a longtime Fender employee and acclaimed humbucking pickup guru, was enlisted to create a brand-new bridge pickup of unrivaled tone and quality. Shaw’s expertise dates far back to his work with the first and biggest names in the history of humbucking pickup design, and the result of his efforts — the “Shawbucker” humbucking pickup — is an electrifying new landmark in Fender pickup design.

“He did not disappoint,” said Vice President of Fender Product Marketing Justin Norvell. “This is a beautiful, musical sounding humbucker, and it’s paired with Custom Shop single coil pickups so you truly have the best of both worlds. Custom Shop Fat ’50s pickups and a Shaw-designed humbucker for the most musical, versatile HSS instrument we’ve ever designed.”

In the video below, Shaw explains his background with humbucking pickups and the approach he took to this Fender assignment. Norvell also offers a tonal demonstration of the American Standard Stratocaster HSS Shawbucker.